Between Two Worlds

Posted on March 11, 2011 at 8:30 am

Between Two Worlds, released in 1944, is the story of a mysterious voyage from London to America. As they sail, each of them guesses or is told that they are dead and on their way to where they will be judged and sent to either heaven or hell. We learn each of their stories and we see how they respond to the news and to the opportunity to think about their lives, their choices, their regrets, and their future. The passengers include a cocky American journalist always seeking an edge (John Garfield), a wealthy snob (Isobel Elsom) and her quiet husband (Gilbert Emery), a gold-digging actress (Faye Emerson), a thuggish businessman who thinks he can buy his way out of anything, a minister, and a humble woman who has devoted her life to caring for others and dreams of a quiet cottage with a garden (the luminous Sara Allgood). When the examiner (Sydney Greenstreet) arrives to talk with them about how they will be treated in the afterlife, there are a number of confrontations, realizations, surprises, and lessons learned.

This is a neglected gem with quiet power, well worth watching and discussing.

‘Stairway to Heaven’ on Hulu

Posted on February 18, 2011 at 8:00 am

I was delighted to find the neglected gem “Stairway to Heaven” (sometimes known as “A Matter of Life and Death”) available on Hulu. Fans of classic movies and spiritual themes should be sure to take a look.

It is a 1946 British film starring David Niven about a WWII pilot who saves his crew and then, realizing that his plane cannot make it back, and with his parachute destroyed, leaps from theplane, preferring to die by falling than in flames. But because his “guide” from the other world does not pick him up, he is caught between this world and the next.

The story works on two levels; you can see it as a literal struggle between heaven and earth or you can see it as a metaphor for what is going on internally as he struggles to recover from a head injury. On both levels, the strongest tie he has to life is the connection he made in a brief conversation with an American military radio operator (Kim Hunter) just before jumping.

This is a beautiful and deeply moving film and very resonant with the themes of “The Adjustment Bureau,” opening next month, inspired by a story by Philp K. Dick.

Nora Ephron’s Valentine Movie List

Posted on February 13, 2011 at 2:00 pm

Nora Ephron (“You’ve Got Mail,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “Julie & Julia”) made a list of her top 11 romantic Valentine’s Day movies to the Daily Beast. You can see the inspiration for her witty, sophisticated love stories in the classics she picks, all of which are high on my list, too.
Once you’ve seen all those, check out Matt Zoller Seitz’s “Great Declarations of Love” movie list on Salon. All wonderful.
And one more from me — it’s not a perfect movie by any means but the most deliriously silly bedroom scene I know is in “The Tall Guy,” with Jeff Goldbloom and Emma Thompson — and some singing underpants.

Contest: Five Classic Romantic DVDs for Your Valentine

Posted on February 9, 2011 at 11:16 pm

Sharing a romantic movie with the one you love is one of life’s greatest pleasures. The fabulous Warner Archive has made more of their most beloved movies about romance available for the first time, including one of my all-time favorites, “The Enchanted Cottage” along with others featuring Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Bob Hope, Debbie Reynolds, and Jimmy Stewart. Here’s a clip from the sexy comedy “Sunday in New York,” starring Jane Fonda, Cliff Robertson, Rod Taylor, and Robert Culp.

And one of my lucky readers has a chance to win FIVE of them. All you need to do is visit the Warner Archive and pick the five titles you want. (If you need advice, ask me about the films with a comment below — I’ve seen almost all of them!) All titles on your list MUST be in the collection. Then send me the names of the five titles at moviemom@moviemom.com with WARNERS in the subject line. On February 15, I will pick one lucky winner at random. Good luck, and happy Valentine’s Day!

List: A Tribute to Ronald Reagan

Posted on February 6, 2011 at 8:00 am

As we celebrate the 100th birthday of Ronald Reagan this week, most of the focus will be on his years in politics. But it is also a good opportunity to take another look at some of his best performances as an actor as well. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Knute Rockne All American This classic story of one of the all-time great college football coaches features Reagan as George Gipp, the player whose death inspired the team to victory.

2. Bedtime for Bonzo Reagan often joked about this film, but it is actually a very cute comedy about a nature/nurture experiment with a chimp raised as a human. Co-star Diana Lynn shines as the love interest.

3. Kings Row The President’s favorite of his films, this is generally considered to be his best performance. It is the story of a small town with a lot of hidden struggles and ugly secrets. Reagan played a optimistic, caring young man who must face a cruel and tragic loss.

4. Hellcats of the Navy It isn’t much of a movie, but this WWII submarine drama is worth watching for another reason — it’s the only film to co-star the future president and his future wife. Then called Nancy Davis, the First Lady appears as the nurse who decides he is her “Mr. Right.”

5. “The Voice of the Turtle” A solider on leave falls for a girl who has not been lucky in love in this romantic comedy based on a hit Broadway play.

And for those who want to know more about his career after Hollywood: